Estates - As enacted, removes the cap on the amount of wages or other compensation owed a deceased employee at the time of the employee's death that an employer shall pay directly to the surviving spouse of the decedent , the official text

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~tate of \ltennessee

PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 194

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 755

                                      By Representatives Faison, Hardaway

                                       Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 1127

                                              By Senators Rose, Bowling

         AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 30 and Title 31, relative to estates.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 30-2-103(b), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:

                     (b)

                              (1) An employer shall pay any wages or other compensation owed a
                    deceased employee at the time of the employee's death directly to the surviving
                    spouse of a decedent or a trust for the benefit of the surviving spouse or, if there
                    is no surviving spouse, to the surviving children of the decedent as tenants in
                    common or a trust for the benefit of any surviving children.

                               (2)

                                        (A) If six (6) months have passed since the decedent's death
                              without an application being made for the appointment of a personal
                              representative, then a person other than an employer owing or holding
                              funds for a decedent is authorized to pay a sum not exceeding ten
                              thousand dollars ($10,000) directly to the surviving spouse of a decedent
                              or a trust for the benefit of the surviving spouse or, if no surviving spouse
                              exists, to the surviving children of the decedent as tenants in common or
                              a trust for the benefit of any surviving children.

                                        (8) If such funds exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), then the
                              excess must be paid to the personal representative or as otherwise
                              ordered by the court.

                              (3) All sums paid pursuant to this subsection (b) must be charged against
                    the elective share, homestead allowance, and year's support allowance as
                    applicable. If a person entitled to receive payment under this subsection (b) is a
                    minor, then the sum must be paid to the guardian or custodian for the minor's
                     benefit.

           SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
                    HOUSE BILL NO. 755

PASSED:  March 27, 2025

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                                   CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                                   HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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                                  '     RANDY MCNALLY

                                     SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

f1R /4pri APPROVED this        I
                    day of                2025

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BILL LEE, GOVERNOR